As the warmer days of summer give way to outdoor cooking, it is time to remember how to safely use and maintain your barbeque grill. To ensure that your summer cookouts go off without an injury, or unexpected fire event, please follow the tips in the 2015 Grill Safety Alert. ...

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) are pleased to announce a partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Partner’s Health Plan (PHP). This partnership implements the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative (Demonstration) to provide better, more coordinated care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (“Medicare-Medicaid Enrollees”). Known as Fully Integrated Duals Advantage (FIDA-IDD), the new...

Hurricane season 2015 opens today, June 1st 2015, and continues through November 30th 2015. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict a mild season with the forecast calling for a 70% chance of 11 named storms in the Atlantic basin. Of those 11 named storms, the prediction calls for three to six storms to develop into hurricanes. We should not allow this forecast to affect our need for planning and preparedness efforts, as it only takes one storm to cause catastrophic consequences. Facilities should take the following actions: ...

The celebration of Memorial Day is the perfect time to remind people that the unofficial beginning of summer must also include attention to protections and precautions. To guarantee a full season of fun and safe summer activities, please follow the tips included in the Summer Safety Alert-2015. ...

Dear Friends and Colleagues:With the recent enactment of the 2015-2016 State budget, we have some very good news to share about what we will be able to do this year to further our system transformation. Governor Cuomo’s leadership has ensured that our system will receive a 3.2 percent increase in this year’s budget for services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and I’d like to tell you a little more about how our funding will be used. The budget provides $124 million to develop needed supports and services. These opportunities range from employment and day services...

Dear Friends and Colleagues:April is Autism Awareness Month and New York is joining the rest of the country in recognizing the unique talents and contributions of individuals with Autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder affecting 1 in 68 children in the United States and is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S. It is five times more likely to occur in boys than girls.Individuals diagnosed with ASD have great potential for achievement in many areas, including the arts. Two such examples are Adrian Esposito, a young filmmaker with several...

Friends and Colleagues: The second meeting of the Transformation Panel was held on March 10th. A summary of the Panel’s second meeting is available on the OPWDD website, along with the agenda for the next meeting which will be held tomorrow, March 25. You can stay connected to the work of the Transformation Panel--check back on our website for meeting materials, agendas and summaries. We welcome your feedback and have established an email account for you to send your inquiries, thoughts and suggestions on the work of the Transformation Panel at transformation.panel@opwdd.ny.gov....